With 100% of votes against Aeroméxico’s 2025 wage proposal, flight attendants led by ASSA have called a strike for May 31. Union divisions and demands for unified contracts deepen the dispute.
A potential strike at Aerovías de México (Aeroméxico) looms on the horizon after the Association of Aviation Flight Attendants (ASSA) overwhelmingly rejected the airline’s proposed salary increase for 2025. In an Extraordinary General Assembly held this week, every flight attendant who cast a ballot voted against the company’s offer, setting the stage for industrial action beginning May 31.
ASSA presented its members with a wage proposal that would have granted a 2.9 percent increase under Contract A and a 3.25 percent increase under Contract B, which carries fewer benefits. According to union officials, the vote tally was unanimous: 100 percent of attendees opposed the offer. The assembly further endorsed, by a vote of 122 in favor and six against, a motion to demand that any approved increase be applied uniformly across both contracts—an attempt to eliminate the two-tier structure between legacy and post-2014 hires.
Union leaders fault Aeroméxico for failing to put forward a proposal that addresses the erosion of purchasing power caused by inflation. ASSA’s negotiating committee, led by Secretary General Ada Salazar, reported that two meetings took place at the airline’s corporate headquarters as of May 20, supplemented by four sessions with labor authorities (one virtual and three in-person). Yet none of these encounters yielded an offer exceeding the annual inflation rate accumulated through April, which has significantly outstripped the modest single-digit increases tabled by management.
“In order to unblock the negotiations, the parties requested justification for their positions,” said Salazar. “ASSA’s demand is for the highest percentage across the board, as it requires a recovery of the purchasing power lost due to the effects of accumulated inflation over the 2020–2024 period.” The union contends that flight attendants endured wage stagnation during a period marked by double-digit inflation spikes, particularly during the global economic turmoil of the pandemic years.
Aeroméxico, which reported strong earnings in 2024 and sustained growth in the first quarter of 2025, believes the proposed increases are competitive within the aviation sector. However, ASSA argues that corporate profitability should translate into fair compensation for front-line staff. Management’s insistence on a split-contract framework—maintaining a lower-benefit tier for employees who joined after 2014—has only intensified grievances.
The contract bifurcation has become a flashpoint within ASSA itself. At the recent assembly, some members demanded Salazar’s resignation, accusing the National Executive Committee of failing to secure real gains. Discontent spilled over into calls to defend the Collective Bargaining Agreement as a single, unified contract rather than two separate accords. “We have one registered agreement, and we expect it to be respected as such,” said one assembly participant, reflecting widespread frustration.
Flight attendants hired after 2014 currently fall under Contract B, which offers reduced vacation days, fewer allowances, and lower severance provisions. The union insists that these employees should enjoy the same terms as veteran staff, insisting that solidarity is critical to leverage during collective bargaining. Company negotiators have maintained that the dual-contract structure is necessary to control labor costs and remain competitive against low-cost carriers.
As rank-and-file anger swelled, Salazar appealed to the Secretariat of the Interior to mediate, a move that was poorly received by some union members. “I request that the list of workers demanding my resignation be released; I’ll gladly hand it over,” she retorted when challenged. Her defiant stance underscores the internal fault lines threatening ASSA’s cohesion at a pivotal moment in negotiations.
Observers note that a strike at a major network carrier like Aeroméxico could have widespread repercussions for Mexico’s aviation sector. Disruptions could affect thousands of passengers, particularly during the busy summer travel season. Both domestic routes—linking Mexico City with regional hubs—and key international connections to North and South America could face cancellations or delays, potentially driving up ticket prices on secondary carriers.
In previous labor disputes, Aeroméxico has relied on contingency strategies, including hiring replacement staff and outsourcing certain ground operations. However, flight attendant absences are harder to cover, given the specialized training and regulatory requirements mandated by aviation authorities. Industry analysts warn that a prolonged walkout could strain the airline’s operational resilience and damage its brand reputation.
The government’s role will be critical in averting service disruptions. The Secretariat of Labor and Social Welfare may invoke dispute-resolution mechanisms under Mexico’s Federal Labor Law, potentially leading to conciliation or arbitration. Should negotiations reach an impasse, the strike could proceed as scheduled, triggering legal deadlines for a federal injunction to restore critical services.
For its part, Aeroméxico has urged ASSA to return to the bargaining table with a more flexible wage proposal. In a statement, the airline reaffirmed its commitment to employee welfare and pledged to keep channels of communication open. “We regret that our offer was not accepted and remain ready to discuss alternatives that recognize inflationary pressures,” the company said.
As the May 31 deadline approaches, both sides face a high-stakes standoff. Flight attendants demand a salary adjustment that fully compensates for years of inflation, along with the consolidation of contract terms. Management seeks to balance labor costs against market realities and maintain financial sustainability. With internal union tensions rising, the unity of ASSA’s membership may prove decisive in shaping the outcome.
Passengers are advised to monitor flight status updates and consider travel insurance policies that cover labor strikes. Meanwhile, industry stakeholders will watch closely to see if the government steps in to broker a resolution and avoid disruptions during Mexico’s peak travel season. In an industry still recovering from the pandemic’s shocks, the resolution of Aeroméxico’s labor dispute could set a precedent for future negotiations across the sector.
With 100% of votes against Aeroméxico’s 2025 wage proposal, flight attendants led by ASSA have called a strike for May 31. Union divisions and demands for unified contracts deepen the dispute.
